Articles by GALIYA KHASSENKHANOVA

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Pro Team rider Gorka Izagirre won the Basque Country Cyclocross Championship Dec. 29, reported prosports.kz. The top finish complimented his two previous wins in the last six weeks. Izagirre, a native of Spain, took first place Nov. 24 in the CX Garai Bizkaia Championships in Basque Country, overtaking his younger brother, Ion,…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has allocated 8.8 billion tenge (US$23 million) for its pavilion at EXPO 2020 in Dubai, reported zakon.kz. “First of all, the government has set the goal of increasing the investment volume in fixed assets, including foreign direct investments, from $24 billion this year to $34 billion by 2025. That is, we plan…

NUR-SULTAN – U.S. website Business Insider ranked Kazakhstan’s Gennady Golovkin ninth on its list of the 15 best boxers in the world right now. The list was released Dec. 25. “Before Golovkin turned professional, he was a wildly decorated amateur fighter with a 2003 World Amateur Championships gold medal and a silver at the 2004…

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government reviewed Dec. 30 the results and implementation of the legislation plan for 2019, including tightening several crime punishments and determined the plan for 2020. The legislation plan for 2019 initially envisaged 27 bills, but taking into account the developer bodies’ proposals and the amendments introduced during the year, the plan…

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Ballet premiered “Cinderella” Dec. 20-22, a two-act ballet based on the music of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. “Cinderella” is the second fairy tale in the theatre’s repertoire, following “The Nutcracker,” and tickets sold out a month before the programme. The ballet will perform the work again Jan. 7-8, then tour to Almaty…

NUR-SULTAN – NS Family WinterFest, a recreational ice town, has opened in the capital’s Botanical Garden, reported the city akimat (city administration). “The Botanical Garden is a special place for the city. We tried to make the design as comfortable as possible for people to spend time here with their families. We also tried to…

NUR-SULTAN – Le Shapalaque Comics is a growing project that seeks to influence its audience and attract attention to social and political problems. “Since the last interview [with The Astana Times], a lot has changed politically in Kazakhstan and on our team. Last time, we had around 10,000 followers; since then, it has grown almost…

NUR-SULTAN – Almaty Futsal Club (AFC) Kairat defeated Taldykorgan FC Jetisu 4-3, Dec. 18, to win the Kazakhstan Cup 2019, reported prosports.kz. “A tough match, very interesting for the fans. I believe finals should be like that. By now, all the teams are already equal in level. We prepared very hard emotionally. Though not with…

NUR-SULTAN – Maksut Narikbayev KAZGUU University has allocated 10 scholarships to secondary school graduates from Uzbekistan, KAZGUU CEO Talgat Narikbayev announced Dec. 6. “These scholarships show that higher education in Kazakhstan opens itself to the Uzbek education market. Considering that Uzbekistan has been closed up in this regard, this is another proof of warming up…

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Dec. 18 signed several decrees relieving some politicians and senior officials from their posts and appointing others, reported akorda.kz. The President’s decree relieved Darkhan Kaletayev, 47, from the position of the First Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, which he occupied since March. Maulen Ashimbayev, 48, who occupied the…

NUR-SULTAN – SCAT Airlines has initiated its first regular flights connecting Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia. Trips from Almaty to Medina and Jeddah launched Nov. 30. “SCAT Airlines has operated flights to Jeddah and Medina for more than three years. Before this, flights were carried out on a charter programme and passengers could purchase a flight…

NUR-SULTAN – On Dec. 11, Nur-Sultan Specialised Inter-District Criminal Court convicted 14 Kazakh men returned from Syria of working for terrorist organisation, the Islamic State or DAESH, and sentenced them…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin recently visited the United States and the United Kingdom to negotiate agreements on venture capital, digital technologies and healthcare, reports primeminister.kz. Mamin, as part of his visit to the United States, met Dec. 11 in San Francisco with the heads of global innovation, digital development, venture financing and…

NUR-SULTAN – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Kazakh Ministries of Healthcare and Labour and Social Protection of the Population opened a three-day training programme Dec. 9 which they developed to teach medical and social workers the proper interaction with children infected with HIV and other chronic diseases. “The programme helps children with chronic diseases.…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged during a December 10 ceremony marking the end of the Year of Youth and the start of the Year of Volunteer the formation of a new national youth policy to more actively help steer the nation’s young people toward productive activities, reported Akorda.kz “Less than a quarter of…

NUR-SULTAN – Newly-appointed Hungarian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Antal Heizer is continuing the embassy’s work to strengthen political, economic and cultural cooperation between the nations. “The relations between our countries are really excellent. Kazakhstan at this moment is the only strategic partner of Hungary in Central Asia and Hungary is the only such partner in Central…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s First President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, attended the second Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 29, where he was named Honorary Chair. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Zheenbekov, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimukhamedov bestowed the title on Nazarbayev. “Nursultan Nazarbayev,…

NUR-SULTAN – The Center for Research and Consulting (CRC) is a relatively young and growing company with the vision of a better Kazakhstan. Its specialisation lies in strategic consulting for public sector. It strives to make the country more competitive and attractive for talented people.  “The key here is for Kazakhstan to determine what proposition…

NUR-SULTAN – Three programmes promoting regional integration in Central Asia were launched at the EU’s regional conference on Enhanced Integration for Prosperity in Central Asia Nov. 28. “We are very optimistic and looking forward to the implementation of these programmes, which relate to the rule of law, trade and investment. Very much of it is…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law making ministers and akims (governors) responsible for corruption among their direct subordinates Nov. 28. The law introduces amendments that will oblige ministers and governors to resign if the top officials in their institutions are found guilty of corruption. “If we seriously want to eradicate corruption, then,…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh athlete Moldir Mekenbayeva won a gold medal at the World Professional Adult and Para Jiu-jitsu Championship Nov. 16-24 in Abu Dhabi.  “This year, the world championship’s organisation was in the hands of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of the United Arab Emirates. Who else but Arabs knows how to conduct competitions at the highest…

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Ballet performed for the first time on the United States West Coast Nov. 19-22, reported its press service. Three California cities – Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco – were struck by the Kazakh national art and work of modern choreographers. “The national dance had a colossal impact on me. It…

NUR-SULTAN – Akbuzat Bashkir Ethno-Cultural Centre in the capital, though relatively new, is active and motivated to promote its culture and traditions, especially among the youth. In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Chairperson Ural Aznabayev talked about the centre’s events and activities and how they attract the younger generation. Although just three years…

NUR-SULTAN – Swiss President Ueli Maurer and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed international and business cooperation opportunities Nov. 22 during the former’s visit to the Central Asian country.   “The two nations have maintained international relationships for a long time, both politically and economically. More than 40 Swiss companies work in Kazakhstan and they feel comfortable…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin reviewed the results of the pilot implementation of Mandatory Social Medical Insurance (MSMI) in Karaganda Region Nov. 18, according to his office. “[Kazakhstan’s First President] Nursultan Nazarbayev set the task of ensuring complete readiness for the introduction of the MSMI. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his state-of-the-nation address noted…